Peoria Falls to Reading 2-0 on the Road; Playoff Chances Slipping Away
April 5, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Reading, Pa. (April 5, 2005) â With their playoff lives on the line, the Peoria Rivermen were unable to find any offense, losing 2-0 to the Reading Royals before 4,257 on Tuesday night at the Sovereign Center. With the defeat, Peoria finished its last seven games, including playoffs, with an 0-6-1 record at the Sovereign Center.
The Royals capped the victory off with an empty-net goal with 24 seconds remaining in the game. A Reggie Stringer pass just outside the Peoria zone was cut off by Reading's David Masse, who walked into the Peoria zone and snapped in a low shot from the top of the right face-off circle as he was being tripped. It was Masse's eighth tally of the season.
Peoria (37-25-8, 82 points) has lost its last two straight games, both against Reading, and has dropped to 14-18-3 away from Carver Arena. The Rivermen finished their eight-game regular season series with the Royals at 2-6-0. In the loss, Peoria was able to hold its opponent to two goals or less for the 24th time in the last 42 games. Reading (42-20-7, 91 points) has won four in a row and improved to 24-8-3 at home. The victory increased the Reading lead in first place to three points with still another game in hand on the second-place Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.
Peoria goaltender Alfie Michaud (27-12-5) stopped 23 of 24 shots in the loss. It was Michaud's 11th one-goal game of the year. His Reading counterpart and former Rivermen, Cody Rudkowsky (8-9-1), turned away all 31 chances he faced for his third shutout of the season.
A Peoria turnover at center ice gave the Royals a 1-0 lead at 7:34 of the opening period. Preston Mizzi pick-pocketed a Rivermen player at center ice and broke back into the Peoria zone, sidestepping a Rivermen defender and pushing the puck to the top of the right face-off circle. Mizzi then sent a cross-ice feed to a breaking Graig Mischler, who was darting down the left side of the zone. Mischler accepted the pass on his forehand and then switched the puck to his backhand to puck his 11th tally of the season inside the right goal post.
With less than two minutes to go in the opening session, things got physical. With 1:36 remaining in the first, Rivermen rookie Kris Kasper duked it out with Royals rookie defenseman Tom Harrison in front of the penalty boxes. Then as the period expired, a melee broke out in front of the Reading net. Peoria defensemen Ian Forbes scuffled with Mizzi, and then Chad Starling got into it with Royals rookie Matt York.
On Friday, April 8, the Rivermen battle the archrival Toledo Storm to conclude a four-city, six-game road trip. Game time is 6:30 p.m. CT at the Toledo Sports Arena.
ECHL Stories from April 5, 2005
- IHOP Bunnies To Be Distributed This Thursday At 10 AM - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Neilson Named ECHL In Glas Co Player Of The Week - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Sauve, Sea Wolves Shut Out Wildcatters 3-0 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Stingrays down Lynx, 4-3, in OT - Augusta Lynx
- Brust Named Reebok Hockey Saver of the Week...York Activated - Reading Royals
- Rudkowsky/ Royals Shutout Rivermen, 2-0 - Reading Royals
- Gladiators Hold off Checkers, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Peoria Falls to Reading 2-0 on the Road; Playoff Chances Slipping Away - Peoria Rivermen
- Titans Hold Off Bombers 2-1 - Trenton Devils
- Bombers Lose Final Home Game, Annual Players Awards Announced - Dayton Bombers
- Hockey-Thon Brings in Over $23,000 for Link to Life - Bakersfield Condors
- Fan Appreciation Celebration Highlights Final Two Games - Fresno Falcons
- Ice Dogs Weekly - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Rookie Goaltender Beckford-Tseu Reassigned from Worcester - Peoria Rivermen
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- 9,280 In Fresno, Sellouts In Idaho Raise ECHL Attendance - ECHL
- Gwinnett's Ustrnul Suspended Seven Games - Atlanta Gladiators
- Charlotte's MacIntyre Suspended One Game - ECHL
- Royals' Brust Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Saver Of The Week - ECHL
- Cajundome Could See History On Saturday - Louisiana IceGators
- Pensacola's Neilson Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Steelheads' Vandermeer Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Plus Performer Of The Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Adam Hauser Named MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus Of The Month - ECHL
- Gladiators Playoff March Update - Atlanta Gladiators
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
